Building structure



NOV. 20, 1945. B- E BALDUF 2,389,573

' BUILDING STRUCTURE.

Filed oct. 27. 1941 5 sheets-Sheet 1 W e A. u' /-g l :MJD

\ Nav. 2o, 1945.

B. E. BAl-.DUF

kBUILDING STRUCTURE Filed oct. 27, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 20, y 1945.

, B. E. BALDUF BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 27, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet .3

Nov. 20, 1945. B, E; BALDUF I 2,389573 BUILDING STRUCTURE FiledOot. 27., 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 20, :1945.

B. El.v BALDUF BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed OCT.. 27, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov'. 20, 1945 2,389,573` BUILDING STRUCTURE Bruno E. Baldur, Chicago, Ill., assigner to United States Gypsum Company, Chicago, lll., a corporation oli Illinois Application October 27,1941, Serial No. dlll 8 Claims.

This invention relates to .building structures, andmore particularly to a building structure including, in various ,combinations and relationships, a new and novel bracing, reinforcing'and securing element, which element is easily adaptable to effectively function in accordance AWith the particular requirements of the part or parts of the structure with which it is associated. For convenience throughout this specification, the

bracing or reinforcing member will be termed a'` utility angle..

`ilarious attempts have beenmade to produce small, low cost houses which will provide a maximum amount of conveniently arranged living space with a. minimum cost for construction. Heretofore th'ese edorts. have not been particularly successful because of the lack of flexibility in the arrangement of living space and the fact that any change from a single standardized structure involved considerable expense. It has, therefore, been impossible to provide low cost small houses in quantities without a, monotonous similarity of design of both the exterior and interior.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means for building small, low cost houses in which, if desired, aA single standardized foundation plan and standardized frame or so-called chassis may be used and wherein the chassis is adaptable for various exterior coverings and iinishes and diierent roof plans and different interior arrangements While retaining a standardized, although exible, method of construction. Various arrangements, in so far as locations and dimensions of doors and windows'are concerned,

may be obtained without sacrificing standardization, which latter is accomplished by the use of a basic modular system in which the modularv dimension bears a predetermined xed relationship to the dimensions of standard manufactured products. The method for which the present invention is adapted enables the quantity production of low cost houses of an indefinite number of exterior designs and interior arrangements without materially'` changing thek basic frame Vstructure or the foundation design.

out materially increasing the cost of the building. Another object is the provision of a so-called utility angle capable of convenient use as a substitute for shplates and the like for connecting abutting timbers, or the. angle may be used for supporting studding of various types and sizes in various ways in accordance with the particular requirements of the frame structure. Also, the utility angles may be used for bracing, trussing, and the likeby merely cutting saw kerfs angular or otherwise in the studdng or frame members Jand inserting onel flange of the utility angle therein and securing the other ange to the studding or the like,

It is also an' object to provide" a utility angle which may easily be adapted for use in ing to the cost of the building structure.

A further object vof the invention is to provide a utility angle strip adaptable for various uses land in various combinations, which strip may be manufactured in any predetermined lengths in quantity production. The utility angle strips are preferably made of thinmalleable metal and may easily be cut into desired lengths by the workman using ordinary tin snips and may readily be pierced by ordinary building nails driven in the usual manner. l

Further objects will be apparent from the specication and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a standardized -frame on a'standardized foundation withfa portion of the ooring laid and utility angles positioned to receive' partition studdingr there between.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective' View of a portion of a frame similar to that shown in Fig. 1 and particularly illustrates the use-of the utility angle in various positions for bracing and reinforcing the frame structure.

Fig. 3'illustrates one of 'the basic floor plans variously positioned with .respect to the front and showing different window and door arrangements in the same floor plan whereby adjacent houses may have different exterior appearances and different roof arrangements.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective -view ofa strip of the utility angle used for bracing and other reinforcement.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the outside plate of the frame and illustrates one use of the utility angle for reinforcement of the joints of the plate.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the ends of two 10 abutting joists and illustrates the use -of the utility angles as substitutes for flshplatesand to provide,tension members adapted to prevent separation of the ends of the joists.

relationship, as lshown jin Figs. v5 and. 7, and l .gether and to obviate the necessity for the use of shplates-or the like. 'I'he method of using the utilityangle in this relationship is illustrated Fig. 7 is a perspective view partially in sec- 15 in Figs.5 and 6.

tion through one of the plates of the frame and illustrates the use of the utility angles for suppprting'the upper ends of the studding and for bracing the studding.

Fig. 4 is a full size fragmentary perspective view of one of the angle strips, which strip is indicated as a whole by the reference character 6, and suitable dimensions are shown on this Fig. 8 is a fragmentaryv perspective view of a 20 view, although it will be apparentlthat the diportion of the frame and illustrates the method of using the utility angles for bracing and other- Wise supportingvhorizontal,studding, runners, or

purlins.

mensions may be varied somewhat in accordance with requirements. However, it is intended that this strip should be standardized in linear d imensions, thickness, and material character- Fig. 9 illustrates a portion of one of the hori- 25 ist-,ics to providev an inexpensive utility angle zontal runners provided with a saw kerf to receive the utility angle brace.

Fig. 10 illustrates a vertical studding with an angular saw kerf therein to receive one of the utility angles. f

Fig. 11 is a.fragmentary perspective view of the end of one of the utility braces cut away to provide'clearance fora corner post or other element to which the utility angle may be secured Fig. 12 is a perspective view illustrating the method of using a single utility angle at each end of the partition studding for supporting the usual partition.

which may easily be cut with ordinary hand tin shears and may be applied by the workman to the structure in various relationships in a minimum of time and without requiring any high degree of skill.

lThe utility angles 6 may be made in anysuity `able lengths and are preferably furnished by the manufacturer in bundles of standard maximum lengths and in short lengths for reinforcing, and may be cut by the workman to adapt desired lengths for the requirements of the particular job. The angle strip is made of -Very thinV malleable metal such, for instance, as sheet iron or the like, and is preferably approximately .032 thick.

Fig. 13 lisa perspective view somewhat similar 40 22 gauge has been found to be satisfactory. The

to that of Fig. 12, but illustrates the use of a single utility angle for supporting very narrow partitions.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view also similar to Fig. 12, but illustrates the marmer of using a plurality of utility angles to support either wide or narrow partition studding.

Fig. 17 is a side elevation of an assembled 5)5 Fig. 5, and the utility angles 6 may be secured wall frame made up of studvpanels similar to` that shown in Fig. 16;J

The embodiment illustrated comprises a foundation I which may be of any suitable inex- 5 wide and the narrow flange may be%" wide.

These dimensions, as well as the thickness, may, of course, vary somewhat. However, it is desirable that the wide flange dimension be somewhat less than one-half of the width of a 2" x 4" stud` if ding and the narrow flange dimension be somewhat less than one-half the thickness of a 2" x 4" studding. This enables the convenient application of the utility angle in various relationships,V

such, for instance, as illustrated in the drawings. One of the assembled plates is illustrated in ,over the joints, as shown, by means of nails 9. Elongated utility angles 6 may extend the entire length of the plates and be secured to the bottom pensive standardized type conforming to standthereof with one'of the flanges, preferably the vof 2" x 6" timber and having vertical corner posts. 3 and intermediate posts 4 supported thereon and toenailed thereto in the usual manshort nange, depending therefrom, as shown in detail in Fig. '1. These utility angles are nailed to the under side of the plate and so positioned that the depending flanges 8` are spaced substantially the width of the 4" x 45 posts 3 and `4 and of any 2" x 4" or 4" x 4" studding which may be used. The upper ends of the corner posts 3 and intermediate posts 4 may be secured between the depending anges 8 by means of nails IU (Fig.

ner, or the posts may be fastened to the plate by 5). The utility angles secured to the plate 5, as

means 'of utility angles applied in a manner simi- 'f'.lar to one of the methods shown in Figs. 12 to l5. Plates 5 are mounted on the upper ends of the posts 3 and 4. These plates are preferably 2" x`6 timbers secured together in side by side shown in Figs. 5 and '7, also provide a channel lto receive the'upper ends of studding in a manner to be described later.

Intermediate plates H (Fig. l) may be con- 5 structed in the same manner as the plates -5 l assasvs and arranged to receive partition studding in the same manner. Joists I2 are supported on the sills 2 in the usual well known manner and are provided with solid bridging or strutting I3 therebetween to secure extreme rigidity and to prevent excessive moving of individual joists, thereby decreasing the hazard of plaster cracks in the associated walls. Sole plates or runners il are cut to the required length and insertedv between the posts, and rest on the ends of the joists l2 to provide studding supports and baseboard nailing strips as required in the usual construction. Sole plates I5 on the sides parallel with the joists maybe suppprted on suitable blocks I6, whereby the sole plate is retained at the required height. These sole plates are preferably 2" x4" timbers. l'he blocks I6 are set up with the 'grain vertical to prevent the sole plates moving with the shrinkalge of the joists and `thereby causing plaster cracks. V`

Ceiling joists Il'l may be supported on the plates. and any suitable roof or even a second story may be applied to the structure, as desired. For

purposes of illustration, only three of the ceiling jolsts il have been illustrated. Y They are joined by utility angles to prevent spreading of the building.

The corner postsl and intermediate posts l arev uniformly spaced in accordance with the' means of nails ttc, as'shown in Fig. '7. Headers il t or window trames it may be provided for windowopenings and short studding il may be used las required.

lt will be apparent -that door and window openings may be positioned as desired, and considerable variation in design may he obtained without changing the general standardization of the structure. lis previously stated, the utility angle strips may be used for bracing, trussing, and the lilre, by merely cutting a series of saw keris; angular or otherwise, in the studding or frame members, as` required, and inserting one flange of the utility angle therein and securing the other flanges to the studcling or like by means of the usual building nails.

.lleretoiore it has been necessary to angularly notch the studding to .the thickness oi a 1" i: li" 3 wooden strip or the lilse, which latter was set into these notches and nailed to the studding in order to provide an angular brace or truss member. Another method has been to cut 2" x 4" strips with angular ends which were inserted between the studding and nailed thereto to provide bracing. These methods are expensive and require considerable time and eort and skill on `the part of the workman and also require the use' of a considerable amount of lumber. They are also unsatisfactory due to shrinkage of the l lumber.

llnthe present invention the utility angle functions to meet all requirements by merely cutting a series of single saw kerfs in the material of the frame andinserting the flange of the angle Atherein.\ The angle strips 'may be cut to any desired length and may be positioned in any .required location and atany angle. The method ol mounting a utility angle is illustrated in detail in F18. 'Ifin which viewA an angular saw kerf 22 is shown in one of the studs I8, which studs may be either 2" x 4" or 1" x 4, and the narrow iiange 8 of the utilityl angle 6 `is inserted in the saw kerf and the wide flange 'I is nailed to each stud by means of ordinary building nails 23 as shown. If desired, an angular saw kerf may also be cut in the plate and in the sill or 1n any one of the posts, So that the angle strip may extend lill? which the utility angle is made is very thin, preferably about .032" thick, although in the drawings it is necessarily shown somewhat thicker for purposes of illustration. This extremely .thin material lies snugly against the frame members, and therefore any type of wall covering may be applied thereto and nailed to the frame members without distorting the covering. The material of the utility angle is sufliciently malleable so that it may easily be pierced with ordinary building nails driven in the usual manner.

Fig. 1 shows the general construction of the frame or chassis and illustrates one of the utility angles t used as a brace in connection with vertical partition studding it in the same manner as in Fig. 7. Fig. 1 also illustrates the use vof the utility angle in connection with the plates for supporting the upper ends of the studding. Also a partially laid :door 2li yis shown with the ends of the joists tied together with utility angles and may be of any standardized type. A plurality of the utility angles t are illustrated secured to the floor in aposition to receive the lower ends of partition studding therebetween. The method of building these partitions is illusv trated in Fig. 1t. When 2" x e" or 1 7. 4"

studs it are used, the wide lianges l of the utility angles are secured tothe lloor by means 'of nails lll it, and in a similar manner the wide flanges l of an opposed pair o utility angles t are secured to the ceiling by means of nails ll. The utility angles are so spaced that the ends of the studding may be inserted between the narrow lianges and the studding secured in position by means of the nails 2th. This provides a very rigid and inexpensive partition, and any desired width of partition studding may be used, although ordinary 2 r. ds or l i; es are preferable. This construction also prevents cracking of ceiling plaster caused by shrinkage in the` wooden sole and top plates ordinarily used in partitions. grain is considerable, depending somewhat on the thickness and width oi the members.

It' desired, a single utility strip may be used at-each end of ,the partition studding, as illustrated in Fig. l2. In this embodiment each end of the studding lt is provided with a saw kerf il@ and the Wide ilanges of the single utility strips are secured to the iloor and ceiling, respectively, by means of nailsl. 'Ihe bottom end of the studding may then be placed on the lower strip with the narrow ilange t -in the saw lrerf, as

' tion.

shown, and the studding then.l straightened up'so that the corresponding flange t of the ceiling strip enters the upper saw kerl. The 4flanges and.

(zo-operating saw kerfs retain the studding against lateral movement and, if desired, nails lll may be driven through the flanges as illusxtrated to retain the studding in vertical posi- I t is sometimes desirable to :make very thin partitions, and. in such cases studding t2 of very narrow width, such as illustrated in Fig. 13,

The shrinkage transversely of the may-be used. These may be mounted in the same manner as the studding described in connection with Fig. 12, and it will be apparent that, even thoughl the wide ange 'i of the utility angle strip extends outwardly beyond the edge of the studding,pit is of suiliciently thin material that it does not interfere with any oor covering which may be laid thereon.

It is sometimes desirable to build. partitions with 2" x 4" studding set edgewise as illustrated in Fig. 15. This also provides a very thin partiticny and for this purpose the narrow anges 8 of the utility strips are slightly less than onehalf the width of a 2 x4 so that they will not overlap when used in the manner illustrated. In this construction, the narrow anges 3 are secured to the floor by means of nails in the manner previously described, with the wide flanges upstanding sol that the studding may be positioned therebetween and the iianges may be nailed to the studding as shown.

Fig. 2 illustrates a portion of the frame in which the utility strips are used in various relationships. Itwill be apparent from this view that the frame or chassis may be rigidly braced in any manner desired merely by cutting saw kerfs angularly or otherwise in any of the timbers of the structure and .inserting one ilange of the strip and nailing the other ange thereto. The saw kerfs may extend across all of the timbers over which the strip extends or, when desired, one of the flanges may becut away as shown at 33 (Fig. 11) so as to provide an loverhanging portion 34 which may be nailed to any part of the structure. The extreme thinness and malleability of the strip enables it to be easily cut to conform to any requirements.

Fig. 10 illustrates an angular saw kerf in a vertical frame member and Fig. 9 illustrates a vertical cut in a horizontal frame member so that a flange of the strip may be inserted therein. In some cases it is desirable to use horizontal purlins instead of vertical studding. 'I'his is illustrated in Fig. 8. This construction is for the purpose of allowing the ready application of certain types of exterior wall coverings, such, forinstance, as vertically positionedsiding (Fig. 2) or strip shingles or the like. In this construction, horizontal purlins 35 are mounted with their ends secured to the posts and 4.

horizontal timbers in the manner shown. in Fig. 9 and securing one of the utility angles thereto with its flange extending into the saw kerfs.

It is sometimes desirable -to construct the side walls with easily mountable and demountable sections or so`ca11ed frame panels, such, for yinstance, as the panels A and B illustrated in Figs. 16 and 17. The panels may each consist of a wall section corresponding in dimensions to mul.- tiples of the modular building unit, each section being of the required height and of a width corresponding to the spacing of the posts .4. Y A single panel unit such as illustrated in Fig. 16 may comprise side studs 38 and intermediate studs 31, the latter being supported between a top plate 38 and a sole plate 39, al1 of these elements being secured together by nailing in the usual manner. The plate'38 may be provided with utility angles 'I 'he bracing or trussing may be accomplished by cutting vertical saw kerfs in the of the studding 3 6 in a position to assist in supporting the sole plate 39.

Aligned saw kerfs may be cut in the timbers, and an angularly positioned utility angle 6 may be secured to the panel in the manner illustrated or in any suitable position to provide the required rigidity of the panel. The panel A is shown with vertical studs and panel B may be constructed in the same manner except that spaced horizontal purlins 40 may be used so that vertical siding `or strip shingles or the like may be secured thereto in the manner previously described. The panel B may be provided with a vertical utility angle 6 which may be applied in the same manner as previously described or in any other relationship.

-side wall panels may be made in quantity production and the desired number may easily and quickly be assembled into a complete wall structure.

8 applied to the underside thereof in the same It is intended, of course,'that the invention should not be limited to the specific embodiment or embodiments disclosed or to the exact details of construction shown as obvious modifications within the scope lof the invention are contemplated, which modications will occur to persons skilledin the art.

Iclaim:

1. In combination with a plurality of studs as set up to form a rigid building frame having plates secured acrossthe ends of said studs, said studs and plates having aligned angular saw kerfs therein, a right-angle utility strip of metal having one flange in said saw kerfs and the other ange against the face of said frame and rigidly secured to said studs and plates, said utility strip being suiciently thin'and malleable to enable ordinary building nails to be easily driven therethrough and sufliciently thin to enable facing material to be secured to said studs over said strip without appreciable distortion of said facing material thereby.

2. In combination with a plurality of studs as set up to form a rigid building frame' and having plates across the ends thereof to support said y studs', said studs and plates having aligned angular saw kerfs therein, a utility angle strip of metal having one ange in said saw kerfs and the other` ange secured to the faces of said studs and `plates to form a rigid angular brace, said metal angle strip being malleable to enable ordinary building nails to be easily driven therethrough, and the flanges of said angle strip being said narrow flange being inserted in said saw kerfs withvsaid wide ange nailed snugly against the faces of said studs and plates, said metal angle strip being sufficiently thin and malleable to enable ordinary building nails to be easily driven therethrough and the flanges of said angle strip being suillciently thin to enable facing material to be applied to said studs over said angle vstrip without appreciable distortion of said facing thereby exposing said iianges exteriorly of the partition structure, and nails driven through said outstanding anges to secure said studding thereto, the material of said strips being sufciently thin and malleable to enable ordinaryV building nails to be easily driven therethrough and to enable facing material to be secured to said studding over said flanges without appreciable distortion of said facing material.

5. In a building construction for small, low. cost houses, the combination of wooden frame members having aligned saw kerfs therein, and ordinary wall facing applied thereto, with a utility building element for bracing, trussing, and securing said wooden frame members comprising an elongated right-angle iron having a flange disposed in said kerfs and having the essential characteristics of light weight, thinness, malleability, and tensile strength so that it may easily be pierced and nailed to the said wooden frame members in any of said bracing, trussing, or securing relationships in the usual manner of driving ordinary building nails, and so that either ange may easily be inserted in saw kerfs cut in said frame members with the usual carpenters saw or the like, the material of said utility building element being sufficiently thin and malleable to be easily cut with ordinary hand tin shears and to avoid distortion of said ordinary wall facing applied to said frame members over the flange of said utility building element that is interposed between said frame members and said wall facing.

6. The combination with arigid building wall panel of predetermined modular dimensions and having side posts. a top plate, and a sole plate assembled to form a panel frame, and intermediate vertical studs extending between said top yplate and said sole plate, the elements of said panel having angular aligned saw kerfs in the faces thereof, of a utility angle having one flange inserted in said saw kerfs and the other flange secured fiatagainst the surface of said elements and secured thereto to secure rigidly said elements together, said utility strip being sufficiently thin and malleable to enable ordinary building nails to be easily driven therethrough and sumciently thin to enable facing material to be secured to said vstuds over said strip without appreciable distortion of said facing material thereby.

7. The combination with a building wall panel of predetermined modular dimensions and having-side posts, a top plate and a sole plate assembled to form a panel frame, and similar utility angles each having one flange secured to the undersurface` ofsaid top plate with the other flanges depending in spaced relation to receive the posts and studding therebetween with the depending flanges secured to the outer surfaces of said posts and studs.

'8. The combination with a building wall panel 'of predetermined modular dimensions comprising side posts, a top plate and aV sole plate assembled to form a panel frame,i and intermediate horizontal purlins extending between said posts and secured thereto, the horizontal elements of said panel having aligned saw kerfs in the faces thereof, of a utility angle for imparting rigidity to said panel having one flange inserted in said l saw kerfs and the other flange secured flat against the surface of said elements and se,- cured thereto` to rigidly secure said elements together, the flanges of said utility angle being sufficiently thin and malleable lto enable ordinary building nails to be easily driven therethrough and sufliciently thin to enable facing material t0 be secured to said panel over said flanges iiat against the surface of said elements without appreciable distortion of said facing material.

BRUN E. BAIDUE. 

